Your sense of humour in your youtube's is getting better and better. I've been following for a while. You're fun to watch. You're out there doing it, when others are sitting in their sticks and bricks. We can travel with you. Thanks. I understood the electric side of what you said, as I'm an electrician. Basically it's good. Put in an isolator.
I'm just upgrading from 106 to 140 amps. It came yesterday (from Summit). Funny thing is, I was listening to alternator vids and this one came up. I already follow you guys because of camping! 😃
Came for the mechman alternator. LOVE THE AIRSTREAM! Beautiful! My grandparents had one when I was a kid they towed behind a 78 Chevy C20. Prettiest campers ever! Love the ST stuff too...haha
From my understanding an isolator will close the circuit only when the truck is off. The circuit is open when the truck is running. Therefore if your camper batteries are low, energy will flow unless you put the isolator on a separate switch rather than the ignition.
I see you got the name from long long trailer 1954 Lucy Ball and Deni Arnez. It’s super hilarious. I’ve done 60,000 miles solo pulling my trailer across the US for the last 4 years in a Coleman 2015 16ft. . Christmas Eve 2019 I upgraded to a coachman 24ftFKS which has been absolutely wonderful. I found a beautiful Lot on a lake in Prescott AZ and have decided to park it there and save up for a van to do my traveling. Still alone I find it a lot of work to keep booking and unhooking so my next project is van convert travel. I’m 71 now and when I was deciding to go full time travel I found your website which helped me so much. You are both so fortunate to have found each other, much better than being alone. Maybe one day I will find my travel partner for now I’m happy free, healthy and it was the best decision I ever made, especially in these Covid times. Houses are nice for entertaining and all but I would never go back to that kind of lifestyle. My entertaining is easier barbecue style and a whole lot of fun. BTW new Lucy movie in the making 2021
@@herveyforward5956 😁haven't noticed the tree. But it's been a little while since we've been there. We live in Homosassa and go there 2 or 3 times a year. By the way, thanks for your help with the RVs. We're newbies and recently went to devils den for our 1st cruise. So far so good. 👍 thanks again!
Thanks for the info. My camper refrigerator runs 12 volts from the battery so I got the mechman alternator and did the same basic cable hook up. Never would have done it without your guys help. Thanks
I do remember seeing your vid from a while back, where you ran out of fuel and drifted to the gas station, in tow no less, and here, you just put it in neutral, and drifted out again. The Gods were looking down on you! Wishing you a Happy Christmas and a Merry Holiday!
Mechman alternator site has many options for you , call them. From there website: Single V belt and 4 rib serpentine belts will start to slip at about 150 amps worth of load. For minimal belt slip, 240 - 370 amp alternators should not be driven by anything narrower than a 6 rib serpentine or dual-V belt drive setup.
Glad the Mechman is working for you guys! These are the issues that keep me from pursuing a solar setup. Also, nice to see you got to stop in at DH Lescombes while traveling through New Mexico...they have great wines and excellent restaurants, and are one of our first visits any time we pass through our home state. Keep the stories coming!
The only real issue is manufacturers installing only the bare minimum to get by. Upgrading alternators is nothing new. Car stereo guys have been doing this since the beginning of alternators. My big ole diesel truck with 2 batteries came with a 125a which is pathetic
Just joined... My wife of 51years and I enjoy your videos... I put a solar system on my 31 ft. Class C Motorhome 2007 Four Winds Fun Mover. We tow a 2006 Wrangler. The solar system is a complete system by itself . Have a Large DC converter to charge my two Battle Born Batteries by a inverter if needed and if plugged in power at full hookups it will separately charge them off shore power.. House battery and solar system batteries and separate.. All plugs in rv run off my solar array and solar batteries AC and DC.. Plug in shore power and everything runs off shore power, Some pretty good Cons having it set up like that... Hope to meet you and the wife someday on the road. We have just really started on the 25 day trips last year.. We are both retired and 73 and 68.. Live on East coast of North Carolina.. If you ever head this way , I have a small place on the Pamlico River in NC. Have a Pontoon boat and a larger boat for skiing . Come on over won't cost you a thing, except to get here... Sam and Cindy Jones... (Hm) 919-735-0246
Great video guys. We still may have one fine tune adjustment to make to the system when you get home, but congrats on the ability to charge while towing!
I bought a 3.5KW Inverter generator and put it in the bed of my pickemup. If my RV trailer batteries need charging I'll just fire it up. will run 10 or more hours on a 2 gallon tank. Weebabycamper has solar panels that keep the batteries charged usually. While I can charge from my 90 amp alternator I don't usually. Now I can run a table saw way out by the Barn, too. A big Alternator draws a huge amount of horse power (mileage) from the engine.
Well, here I sit with my 1/2 inch breaker bar in hand and my Chilton and Haynes In the other hand awaiting the arrival from Ebay of my new MachMan 240 amp alternator. Iv been put afoot for the second time within a week by the Ford dealer in Longmont now I'm taking things into my own hands. Thanks for the recommendation it was just in time to suite my needs.
Howdy from Oklahoma! I have similar truck but mine dies when below 15 degrees. The gurus tell me it’s electrical. I’m going to upgrade wiring and battery connections first, then may upgrade alternator. Just replaced it a few years ago with a 110 amp I’m sure.
Everything seems to be working fine now. Honestly I suppose this was just an unexpected "real world" problem. Most modern 6 phase alternators in more modern trucks would probably not have the problem, especially since the Renogy DC to DC charger was installed.
@@hussietart I got an email from TH-cam the other day with some statistics... apparently in 2020 I personally replied to almost 10,000 user comments. What's surprising is that 10,000 only represents a small fraction of the total number of comments. And that's just TH-cam. We also get comments on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, email, etc. If I spent all my time replying to comments I'd never have time to do anything else.
Second Best Video EVER! All the videos about Seemore are great, and this one ranks up at the top. My old 6.0L Powerstroke is still getting the job done too, and I like to reward it with the occasional upgrade. Maybe a big alternator will be next. We just upgraded our truck batteries this year and added the high-amp charging cable to the hitch too. Thanks for all you do. Great info for Loloho nation!
That Bulletproofed 6.0 may be "aging," but if you've checked - and I mean REALLY checked what's out there now in terms of durability, reliability, and cost - you'll easily come to the conclusion that there's NOTHING better than an older PowerStroke. I have a 7.3 in an OBS (old body style) and it's simply incredible! It actually gets better with age! Hang onto yours!!!!!!
Loved the Star Trek clips. very creative in your videos. Also learned about a really good alternator brand that I need to look at for my truck. Sean must be a happy gear-head this weekend with another SEC championship and final 4 ahead. Bama - Clemson finals in 3 weeks should be a classic. There, did I just jinx it........
Your trials and tribulations are laying the groundwork for all your subscribers and viewers. This is a great video, and the Star Trek excerpts are hilarious.
Lithium now. Dilithium in the future. But we'll have to go to the delta quadrant for trilithium. Keep your eyes open for a worm hole so you can get ahead of the game.
Well well, thats a very interesting lesson. Thanks for that info! I'm sure many people will thank you for this info. I haven't gone the solar way yet but if or when I do I will be making sure I get a better alternator! Thanks!
Thanks for the info. I don't have the same set up as you but I do have some extra stereo equipment, a couple compressors and a few do-dads on the dash. I will add it to the to be done list. Thanks for sharing! Steve
Yes you got the GODZILLA of alternators. Well worth the $$$ IMHO. One must be careful when installing a DC to DC charger and using a factory minimum alternator. You can burn them out pretty easily. They have to run constantly and not getting enough cooling time & air. I am a bit surprised that Seemore didn't come with twin alternators. A lot of diesels do. well you shouldn't have any issues now...
Great video I kind of wonder whether the person doing your solar and installing Anderson cable should have determine the power draw at that time and upgraded the alternator then?
Wow I never new that about the alternators, especially ford alternators..I have a 6.7 350 and I'm not sure what is in there but, now I will do some investigating on that ..thanks Sean, I wouldn't want to be stranded either lol
Merry Christmas from Norway. Stay healthy and safe traveling. And remember that an Airstream can look very much like a UFO from above. So I really hope no one up there "messes up" and thinks it's one of their own. Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas Morten! You know, I have been to Sweden and Denmark but did not make it over to Norway. Would love to visit someday. When we do I will give you a shout. Cheers!
@@LongLongHoneymoon Hi! It was interesting to hear. You are most welcome to come to Norway. You have impressed me many times and are not surprised that you are waiting to visit the best country until last hehe (or hohoho in these times) Cheers !
You should think about adding a soliniod or switch to back feed over that charge controler or if easy access you could use a jumper cable, in an emergency situations, you had all that power in the trailer that could have started the truck. Plus it's a great back up when technology gets the best of you, last camp trip of the year inverter was set at 5amp 120 input max. So I could not charge my battery bank and run instant pot.
Win win glade you got up and going . Old military of me would say 400 amp alt needed when you upgraded early on. Seen many 60 Amp alt go many times due to overload draws. Keep us informed on the performance. I too will be looking to upgrade this spring and glad to hear they are AMERICAN made.
I know this video is 2 years old, how has your DC-DC charging been working? What size wire did you run through your Anderson connector to the RV battery bank?
DC to DC is my favorite method to charge lithiums, so fast! Though I'm not a huge fan of Renogy because of support, or lack there of, they do make a decent product. We ran a Sterling (marine grade) 60 Amp unit in our Van, what a beast, and has some kind of voodoo protection circuits for the alternator. my 2nd choice would be a Victron B2B. That Alternator looks awesome, that should be fantastic. mmm should I upgrade our new truck's alternator? we'll see.
Seemore fought to get you to the safety of the park. BTW - you can add a pull handle to the Anderson connector so it will be easier to disconnect. Thanks for sharing and have a great holiday season.
Well from a retired Automotive Instructor ,That was a good upgrade. I believe maybe a little bit of overkill but supporting a TN based American Company is a good thing. When you did your upgrade I told my wife “ That reman aftermarket Alternator is probably going to fail” Remanufactured is a alternative for some but I rarely go that route. Lets hold a moment of silence for the death of a kind act. Dan’s Clam stand is up the road from us. I’ll hold a memorial out back where Semore got his transplant years ago. Merry Christmas-
I am interested to know which of your two vehicle batteries are cabled to the Anderson connector. I am also interested to know why that truck battery (of the two) was selected.
Very informative, on last trip, noticed my motorhome alternator voltage output was getting a little unusual. Your link to "Patreon" is producing a 404 error on that website, you might want to check it.
Perhaps I'm missing something but is the D+ wire from the charger in the Airstream connected to the ignition post on the alternator or some other fuse that only has power when the vehicle is running? The charger has to detect power in order to operate. Since I don't see a third wire by your Anderson connectors I suspect it is getting power from a wire that is located somewhere in the Airstream. And if the wire is attached to a power source that is on while the vehicle is off and connected to the trailer, it will drain the starter battery In other words, you may have started your shake down cruise with a half dead battery if you hooked everything up the night before you left. Per the manual: "The DC-DC will not power on or operate until the D+ ignition cable is connected to the ignition circuit where it will detect a 12V source to operate ON. The purpose is to toggle the DC-DC switch on when the vehicle is running with the alternator to prevent the DC-DC from operating incorrectly with just the starter battery leaving you with a drained starter battery. Use 18-16AWG copper cable. You may need a multi-meter to test your connections to verify placement of the D+ wire".
Sean, I didn't get to finish asking my question, my first time replying to anything. But my question was did you have a second dc to dc charger on your truck for the second battery and did you upgrade your wiring (big 3) like your grounds and charging wires. Any insight on your system would be helpful and greatly appreciated. Thanks George
My 2018 GMC Yukon doesn't have any elect issues.... yet wondering if installing the 370 AMP Mechman Alternator is worth it. Much thanx, Frank in my Flying Cloud 23CB... Silver Conestoga Wagon.
Unrelated to the alternator conversation (but spotted in the pull away drone shot towards the end of the video), I see you’ve got the Thule (Yakima?) cargo box mounted backwards on the over bed rails. What’s the benefit? I’m considering a very similar setup. Thx.
Technically it may be backwards but it's designed to be mounted in either direction. This direction seemed a bit more aerodynamic with our truck. Our installer said this 'backwards' option is popular on trucks.
Just to wet your appetite for a new truck I have new GMC 2500 Gasser with interesting features, probably similar on Ford and Dodge 1. Came with 180 amp but there is option for 2nd 220 amp alternator 2. The computer now manages charging and voltage. If demand at idle is more than available computer will increase engine idle speed as needed to increase amps. If alternator limit is reached computer will drop volts to certain vehicle components to try to balance load. 3. Hot wire to trailer thru factory 7 pin is fused at 30 amps and is hot whether truck on or off. (Several videos out there on how to jumper this circuit over to switched power) 4. Very hard if not impossible to run batt down when off. Most acc's shut off after 10 min. I'm told circuits remaining will shut off before batt volts get too low to start. On the negative side, friend in dealer service dept told me about one of these struck by lightning......and ins co totalled it out.
I went with Alternatorman for my 7.3, they only build alternators. They have a TH-cam video where they tell where all the parts come from. When I called about cable upgrades, it's the voice on the video you'll be speaking with. Not sure where all the Mechman parts come from.
If towing during the day, does your setup allow power from the solar panels simultaneously with power from the alternator into charging your lithium’s?
Hey Sean, You do have a solenoid between the truck and trailer right? Preferably a smart solenoid that prioritizes the truck batteries. Doing the simple math, your truck at idle will be around 13.1 volts DC and feeding your trailer's 40 amp DC to DC charger so you have a built in limit of 40 charging amps. 13.1V* 40A=540W so at idle your charge meter is showing almost exactly that from the alternator feeding the trailer batteries. Then you have to figure the rest of the active load you're running, especially at night. My 160 amp alternator does a great job charging my truck agm and truck camper 2 agm batteries. Give a holler if you make it up to the Hood River area.
@@LongLongHoneymoon If things in your schedule work out this direction, give me a little advance notice, I can get you setup on my friends ranch. Dump, power, and fresh water available. Get there late March for snows to melt, unhook and there's a ton of sight seeing day trips. Mt Adam's, St Helen's, Mt Hood, and numerous places between.
Yes, planning to launch it January 3. It was more than a wax, it's a new nanotechnology ceramic coating. We get home today and I will wash the rig this weekend. Merry Christmas!
Cool , I had/have wood artillery mold spores all over the driver side of AS, had to use a credit card to scrape them off. Once I have a chance i need to do a 4 stage glaze wax ect,ect...look forward on your show.Dean
Hello from Prescott, AZ. Enjoyed the video very much. We just ordered our new F350 two weeks ago and made sure to get the 397 amp alternator. Feeling extra good about that now, as we also plan to charge Lithium Batteries with a DC-DC converter. Also noticed from watching your solar videos that you are getting what I would consider to be very poor results from you solar. You didn't mention how they are wired but I would be interested in that answer. Could be a better way? Take care.. Jet
Understand that the Renogy 40 amp DC/DC unit OUTPUTS up to 40 amps but it can draw as much as 50 amps from the truck due to that fact that it is a Buck/Boost design, it can buck the voltage down, or boost the voltage up, to what is needed, and with internal electrical losses, it needs more than it puts out. I've been looking at the Mechman alternators for a year or so now, and installing a separate cabling system and Anderson connectors, but it will just have to wait. No lithium so its not absolutely needed right now.
Thank you for the information on the alternator! We had our 2003 6.0 Diesel Ford F250 "Bulletproof" in AZ in 2019 per your recommendations...thank you!!!! Merry Christmas!
I want to install one of these in my 2011 Camry, if for peace of mind if nothing else. Most of the alternators being produced today are China junk. I don't want to screw up my car doing it though. At a minimum, do I need larger gauge ground and battery cables?
Really dig the Star Trek inserts. I have a 2014 350 with a 6.7. I wonder if that’s the alternator that was in your 6.0 and if I should up grade? I have 3 120 amp Zamp solar panels. With AGM batteries. Great vid always informative.
Mechman! amzn.to/38mhWhp
Much better than made in Chyna.
CHeck the product. Click the description on Amaz and it shows the4 country of origin as China.
@@jimdavitt1169 that's just an inaccurate Amazon description. There are millions of product listings on Amazon, many of them are inaccurate.
@@jimdavitt1169 1035 Data Lane
Knoxville, TN 37932
Brand x is a good one there for car audio
Your sense of humour in your youtube's is getting better and better.
I've been following for a while. You're fun to watch. You're out there doing it, when others are sitting in their sticks and bricks. We can travel with you. Thanks.
I understood the electric side of what you said, as I'm an electrician. Basically it's good. Put in an isolator.
Next power upgrade: Dilithium Crystals.
Aye.
LOL! As Scotty would often say in a Scottish brogue, "...My engines...my poor, poor engines!"
Mr. SEEMORE, Warp Factor 1!
Replace the copper coils in the alternator with warp coils. Oughta do it.
Loved your pronunciation of China (reminded me of someone who used to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue) and your support for "Made in USA."
I'm just upgrading from 106 to 140 amps. It came yesterday (from Summit). Funny thing is, I was listening to alternator vids and this one came up. I already follow you guys because of camping! 😃
Came for the mechman alternator. LOVE THE AIRSTREAM! Beautiful! My grandparents had one when I was a kid they towed behind a 78 Chevy C20. Prettiest campers ever! Love the ST stuff too...haha
Why was there not a battery isolator installed which would give truck battery priority charging.
That may be next on the list! But for now, everything seems to be working fine with the new alternator setup.
From my understanding an isolator will close the circuit only when the truck is off. The circuit is open when the truck is running. Therefore if your camper batteries are low, energy will flow unless you put the isolator on a separate switch rather than the ignition.
this is a quality video. That's how you do it TH-cam.
I just stubbed on the video. It's a good reminder how important the alternator is.
I see you got the name from long long trailer 1954 Lucy Ball and Deni Arnez. It’s super hilarious. I’ve done 60,000 miles solo pulling my trailer across the US for the last 4 years in a Coleman 2015 16ft. . Christmas Eve 2019 I upgraded to a coachman 24ftFKS which has been absolutely wonderful. I found a beautiful
Lot on a lake in Prescott AZ and have decided to park it there and save up for a van to do my traveling. Still alone I find it a lot of work to keep booking and unhooking so my next project is van convert travel. I’m 71 now and when I was deciding to go full time travel I found your website which helped me so much. You are both so fortunate to have found each other, much better than being alone. Maybe one day I will find my travel partner for now I’m happy free, healthy and it was the best decision I ever made, especially in these Covid times. Houses are nice for entertaining and all but I would never go back to that kind of lifestyle. My entertaining is easier barbecue style and a whole lot of fun. BTW new Lucy movie in the making 2021
Just got mine can’t wait to install it.
I can tell you are really charged up about your new alternator! Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad and a good Mele Kalikimaka to you!
I bought 250 amp for $89 and it still works after 10 years!
Nice deal! Now go knock on some wood! :D
Love Dan's clam stand. Cheese burgers and gator is my favorite. As you found out, Good folks run the place.
It's a great place!
We visit it couple times a year, Love the upside down Christmas tree-
@@herveyforward5956 😁haven't noticed the tree. But it's been a little while since we've been there. We live in Homosassa and go there 2 or 3 times a year. By the way, thanks for your help with the RVs. We're newbies and recently went to devils den for our 1st cruise. So far so good. 👍 thanks again!
That’s unbelievable as long as you have been on the road I’m surprised you haven’t upgraded your alternator, 101 in RV world
We never really needed to before our solar. 🤷🏼♀️
Thanks for the info. My camper refrigerator runs 12 volts from the battery so I got the mechman alternator and did the same basic cable hook up. Never would have done it without your guys help. Thanks
I do remember seeing your vid from a while back, where you ran out of fuel and drifted to the gas station, in tow no less, and here, you just put it in neutral, and drifted out again. The Gods were looking down on you! Wishing you a Happy Christmas and a Merry Holiday!
Mechman alternator site has many options for you , call them.
From there website:
Single V belt and 4 rib serpentine belts will start to slip at about 150 amps worth of load. For minimal belt slip, 240 - 370 amp alternators should not be driven by anything narrower than a 6 rib serpentine or dual-V belt drive setup.
Glad the Mechman is working for you guys! These are the issues that keep me from pursuing a solar setup. Also, nice to see you got to stop in at DH Lescombes while traveling through New Mexico...they have great wines and excellent restaurants, and are one of our first visits any time we pass through our home state. Keep the stories coming!
Thanks and good catch on DH Lescombes. We stayed there as a Harvest Host. We look forward to coming back next year and taking the tour!
The only real issue is manufacturers installing only the bare minimum to get by. Upgrading alternators is nothing new. Car stereo guys have been doing this since the beginning of alternators. My big ole diesel truck with 2 batteries came with a 125a which is pathetic
Love the mighty white hunter headgear. Thanks for your effort here.
I agree. Truck should get priority. Thanks for the tip on mechman!
Glad to hear that the new alternator is working out.
Just joined... My wife of 51years and I enjoy your videos... I put a solar system on my 31 ft. Class C Motorhome 2007 Four Winds Fun Mover. We tow a 2006 Wrangler. The solar system is a complete system by itself . Have a Large DC converter to charge my two Battle Born Batteries by a inverter if needed and if plugged in power at full hookups it will separately charge them off shore power.. House battery and solar system batteries and separate.. All plugs in rv run off my solar array and solar batteries AC and DC.. Plug in shore power and everything runs off shore power, Some pretty good Cons having it set up like that... Hope to meet you and the wife someday on the road. We have just really started on the 25 day trips last year.. We are both retired and 73 and 68.. Live on East coast of North Carolina.. If you ever head this way , I have a small place on the Pamlico River in NC. Have a Pontoon boat and a larger boat for skiing . Come on over won't cost you a thing, except to get here... Sam and Cindy Jones... (Hm) 919-735-0246
I love the Star Trek clips. One of my favorite episodes. 👍🏻
Great video guys. We still may have one fine tune adjustment to make to the system when you get home, but congrats on the ability to charge while towing!
I bought a 3.5KW Inverter generator and put it in the bed of my pickemup. If my RV trailer batteries need charging I'll just fire it up. will run 10 or more hours on a 2 gallon tank. Weebabycamper has solar panels that keep the batteries charged usually. While I can charge from my 90 amp alternator I don't usually. Now I can run a table saw way out by the Barn, too. A big Alternator draws a huge amount of horse power (mileage) from the engine.
Knoxville area is actually Denso Mfg (DMTN) located in Maryville, TN
Well, here I sit with my 1/2 inch breaker bar in hand and my Chilton and Haynes In the other hand awaiting the arrival from Ebay of my new MachMan 240 amp alternator. Iv been put afoot for the second time within a week by the Ford dealer in Longmont now I'm taking things into my own hands. Thanks for the recommendation it was just in time to suite my needs.
We've towed 2000 miles now and had no issues. Working great so far!
Great information to know. I never would have thought about upgrading my truck's alternator if I have electrical problems.
Yes, especially for those of us with older trucks and 3-phase alternators...
Howdy from Oklahoma! I have similar truck but mine dies when below 15 degrees. The gurus tell me it’s electrical. I’m going to upgrade wiring and battery connections first, then may upgrade alternator. Just replaced it a few years ago with a 110 amp I’m sure.
With the increased load from the new alternator, did you have to upgrade any wiring with your chassis batteries?
I Wonder why your solar installer didn't give you a heads up that your truck alternator may be undersized to do the task he was giving it to do?
@@badgerpa9 We must have hit a sour note. We didn’t get a heart with our comments!!
Everything seems to be working fine now. Honestly I suppose this was just an unexpected "real world" problem. Most modern 6 phase alternators in more modern trucks would probably not have the problem, especially since the Renogy DC to DC charger was installed.
@@hussietart I got an email from TH-cam the other day with some statistics... apparently in 2020 I personally replied to almost 10,000 user comments. What's surprising is that 10,000 only represents a small fraction of the total number of comments. And that's just TH-cam. We also get comments on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, email, etc. If I spent all my time replying to comments I'd never have time to do anything else.
Because many of them know nothing other than exactly what they're doing and only know the basics.
Second Best Video EVER! All the videos about Seemore are great, and this one ranks up at the top. My old 6.0L Powerstroke is still getting the job done too, and I like to reward it with the occasional upgrade. Maybe a big alternator will be next. We just upgraded our truck batteries this year and added the high-amp charging cable to the hitch too. Thanks for all you do. Great info for Loloho nation!
Thank you!
Got my 320 mechman today can’t wait to install it. 🤩
Ours is working great so far.
That Bulletproofed 6.0 may be "aging," but if you've checked - and I mean REALLY checked what's out there now in terms of durability, reliability, and cost - you'll easily come to the conclusion that there's NOTHING better than an older PowerStroke. I have a 7.3 in an OBS (old body style) and it's simply incredible! It actually gets better with age! Hang onto yours!!!!!!
It's still a solid tow vehicle. This year it took us safely through the Rocky Mountains again. 💪
More power Scotty more power
Loved the Star Trek clips. very creative in your videos. Also learned about a really good alternator brand that I need to look at for my truck. Sean must be a happy gear-head this weekend with another SEC championship and final 4 ahead. Bama - Clemson finals in 3 weeks should be a classic. There, did I just jinx it........
Your trials and tribulations are laying the groundwork for all your subscribers and viewers. This is a great video, and the Star Trek excerpts are hilarious.
Haha thanks, we do seem to have our fair share of trials! Hopefully we are set with this setup for a while.
Have you upgrade your wiring ? The powerstroke 6.0 have factory wiring gage to fit 110 amp alternator.
Same wiring.
Lithium now. Dilithium in the future. But we'll have to go to the delta quadrant for trilithium. Keep your eyes open for a worm hole so you can get ahead of the game.
Beam me up!
Well well, thats a very interesting lesson. Thanks for that info! I'm sure many people will thank you for this info.
I haven't gone the solar way yet but if or when I do I will be making sure I get a better alternator! Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the info. I don't have the same set up as you but I do have some extra stereo equipment, a couple compressors and a few do-dads on the dash. I will add it to the to be done list. Thanks for sharing! Steve
Now you have all the power Have you think put RV refrigerator on electric power to keep food cold?
Yes you got the GODZILLA of alternators. Well worth the $$$ IMHO. One must be careful when installing a DC to DC charger and using a factory minimum alternator. You can burn them out pretty easily. They have to run constantly and not getting enough cooling time & air. I am a bit surprised that Seemore didn't come with twin alternators. A lot of diesels do. well you shouldn't have any issues now...
Great video I kind of wonder whether the person doing your solar and installing Anderson cable should have determine the power draw at that time and upgraded the alternator then?
I wonder the same thing!. Weird!!
I did this same thing, however I added an isolator to prevent my truck batteries from being discharged.
Wow I never new that about the alternators, especially ford alternators..I have a 6.7 350 and I'm not sure what is in there but, now I will do some investigating on that ..thanks Sean, I wouldn't want to be stranded either lol
Call me with the last 8 of your VIN Monday and I’d be glad to tell you the amperage! 860-945-4915
Merry Christmas from Norway. Stay healthy and safe traveling. And remember that an Airstream can look very much like a UFO from above. So I really hope no one up there "messes up" and thinks it's one of their own. Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas Morten! You know, I have been to Sweden and Denmark but did not make it over to Norway. Would love to visit someday. When we do I will give you a shout. Cheers!
@@LongLongHoneymoon Hi! It was interesting to hear. You are most welcome to come to Norway. You have impressed me many times and are not surprised that you are waiting to visit the best country until last hehe (or hohoho in these times) Cheers !
I put the DC to DC system as well! Totally worth it and an easy install! I have a 2018 F250, the alternator is managing it well
Nice! Your 2018 probably has a 6 phase alternator.
You should think about adding a soliniod or switch to back feed over that charge controler or if easy access you could use a jumper cable, in an emergency situations, you had all that power in the trailer that could have started the truck. Plus it's a great back up when technology gets the best of you, last camp trip of the year inverter was set at 5amp 120 input max. So I could not charge my battery bank and run instant pot.
I always always have a jumper box and not a hot air intake. Keep stock air intake on
Hope you installed new truck batteries, and a DC to DC isolator.
Thanks for the info. Merry Christmas you two!🎄
Hooe you did a 4/0 big 3 power wire upgrade under the hood. 370A is a massive amount of current at 14V
Would the upgraded alternator adversely affect the FICM?
Your on the cutting edge .
Win win glade you got up and going . Old military of me would say 400 amp alt needed when you upgraded early on. Seen many 60 Amp alt go many times due to overload draws. Keep us informed on the performance. I too will be looking to upgrade this spring and glad to hear they are AMERICAN made.
Thanks, yes they seem like top quality units!
I know this video is 2 years old, how has your DC-DC charging been working? What size wire did you run through your Anderson connector to the RV battery bank?
DC to DC is my favorite method to charge lithiums, so fast! Though I'm not a huge fan of Renogy because of support, or lack there of, they do make a decent product. We ran a Sterling (marine grade) 60 Amp unit in our Van, what a beast, and has some kind of voodoo protection circuits for the alternator. my 2nd choice would be a Victron B2B. That Alternator looks awesome, that should be fantastic. mmm should I upgrade our new truck's alternator? we'll see.
Good informative vid. I will say, I'm a little surprised the solar/battery installer did not bring this up. Merry Christmas.
Well, our truck is a bit of a dinosaur. More modern trucks will probably not have this problem.
Seemore fought to get you to the safety of the park. BTW - you can add a pull handle to the Anderson connector so it will be easier to disconnect. Thanks for sharing and have a great holiday season.
Thanks for the tip!
Well from a retired Automotive Instructor ,That was a good upgrade. I believe maybe a little bit of overkill but supporting a TN based American Company is a good thing. When you did your upgrade I told my wife “ That reman aftermarket Alternator is probably going to fail” Remanufactured is a alternative for some but I rarely go that route. Lets hold a moment of silence for the death of a kind act. Dan’s Clam stand is up the road from us. I’ll hold a memorial out back where Semore got his transplant years ago. Merry Christmas-
Merry Christmas! Say hi to Dan is you go to his Clam Stand. The food there was always great!
@@LongLongHoneymoon were headed there for dinner.
Did you have to upgrade wiring on the alternator to the batteries???
Impulse engines upgrade next. That is an awesome upgrade. Truly a game changer for warp speed.
Excellent upgrade.
Thanks, it sure is. We have now towed almost 2000 trouble-free miles with our new alternator, always arriving with lithium batts at 100%.
I am interested to know which of your two vehicle batteries are cabled to the Anderson connector. I am also interested to know why that truck battery (of the two) was selected.
Love your videos. Absolutely love 'em. This will help me with my RV -- thank you! Merry Christmas to you both!
Very informative, on last trip, noticed my motorhome alternator voltage output was getting a little unusual. Your link to "Patreon" is producing a 404 error on that website, you might want to check it.
Great video! Loved the Star Trek clips! Happy holidays!
Perhaps I'm missing something but is the D+ wire from the charger in the Airstream connected to the ignition post on the alternator or some other fuse that only has power when the vehicle is running? The charger has to detect power in order to operate. Since I don't see a third wire by your Anderson connectors I suspect it is getting power from a wire that is located somewhere in the Airstream. And if the wire is attached to a power source that is on while the vehicle is off and connected to the trailer, it will drain the starter battery In other words, you may have started your shake down cruise with a half dead battery if you hooked everything up the night before you left. Per the manual:
"The DC-DC will not power on or operate until the D+ ignition cable is connected to the ignition circuit where it will detect a 12V source to operate ON. The purpose is to toggle the DC-DC switch on when the vehicle is running with the alternator to prevent the DC-DC from operating incorrectly with just the starter battery leaving you with a drained starter battery. Use 18-16AWG copper cable. You may need a multi-meter to test your connections to verify placement of the D+ wire".
Sean, I didn't get to finish asking my question, my first time replying to anything. But my question was did you have a second dc to dc charger on your truck for the second battery and did you upgrade your wiring (big 3) like your grounds and charging wires. Any insight on your system would be helpful and greatly appreciated.
Thanks
George
I wish I had seen this before I had the alternator on My 1998 Expedition rebuilt.
More Star Trek please! Nice job.
My 2018 GMC Yukon doesn't have any elect issues.... yet wondering if installing the 370 AMP Mechman Alternator is worth it. Much thanx, Frank in my Flying Cloud 23CB... Silver Conestoga Wagon.
Unrelated to the alternator conversation (but spotted in the pull away drone shot towards the end of the video), I see you’ve got the Thule (Yakima?) cargo box mounted backwards on the over bed rails. What’s the benefit? I’m considering a very similar setup. Thx.
Technically it may be backwards but it's designed to be mounted in either direction. This direction seemed a bit more aerodynamic with our truck. Our installer said this 'backwards' option is popular on trucks.
6:58 hey I live near knoxville!
Great video sean and thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas to you guys and be safe.
Thank you too
Just to wet your appetite for a new truck I have new GMC 2500 Gasser with interesting features, probably similar on Ford and Dodge
1. Came with 180 amp but there is option for 2nd 220 amp alternator
2. The computer now manages charging and voltage. If demand at idle is more than available computer will increase engine idle speed as needed to increase amps. If alternator limit is reached computer will drop volts to certain vehicle components to try to balance load.
3. Hot wire to trailer thru factory 7 pin is fused at 30 amps and is hot whether truck on or off. (Several videos out there on how to jumper this circuit over to switched power)
4. Very hard if not impossible to run batt down when off. Most acc's shut off after 10 min. I'm told circuits remaining will shut off before batt volts get too low to start.
On the negative side, friend in dealer service dept told me about one of these struck by lightning......and ins co totalled it out.
I went with Alternatorman for my 7.3, they only build alternators. They have a TH-cam video where they tell where all the parts come from. When I called about cable upgrades, it's the voice on the video you'll be speaking with. Not sure where all the Mechman parts come from.
I believe the Renogy DC to DC chargers pull 50% more than they put out. It's in the Manual.
Not a cheap alternator but worth it if you need the power. Will probably upgrade our 200 amp Ford F350 in the future.
Howdy! I was looking for your bullet proof video and I can’t find it? Did you take it down?
If towing during the day, does your setup allow power from the solar panels simultaneously with power from the alternator into charging your lithium’s?
Yes.
Did you upgrade the battery cables? I'm considering the same upgrade but wondering if I have to upgrade all the cables.
Did you have to get a shorter belt
Wow, you had a very undersized alternator on before. Even my 1995 Mustang GT had a 140A alt in it.
Hey Sean, You do have a solenoid between the truck and trailer right? Preferably a smart solenoid that prioritizes the truck batteries. Doing the simple math, your truck at idle will be around 13.1 volts DC and feeding your trailer's 40 amp DC to DC charger so you have a built in limit of 40 charging amps. 13.1V* 40A=540W so at idle your charge meter is showing almost exactly that from the alternator feeding the trailer batteries. Then you have to figure the rest of the active load you're running, especially at night. My 160 amp alternator does a great job charging my truck agm and truck camper 2 agm batteries. Give a holler if you make it up to the Hood River area.
Thanks for the input! Maybe see you in Hood River later this year. Cheers!
@@LongLongHoneymoon If things in your schedule work out this direction, give me a little advance notice, I can get you setup on my friends ranch. Dump, power, and fresh water available. Get there late March for snows to melt, unhook and there's a ton of sight seeing day trips. Mt Adam's, St Helen's, Mt Hood, and numerous places between.
So are you doing a vid on the outside buff and wax on your trailer.Dean
Yes, planning to launch it January 3. It was more than a wax, it's a new nanotechnology ceramic coating. We get home today and I will wash the rig this weekend. Merry Christmas!
Cool , I had/have wood artillery mold spores all over the driver side of AS, had to use a credit card to scrape them off. Once I have a chance i need to do a 4 stage glaze wax ect,ect...look forward on your show.Dean
Thanks for the great information!
Cool video. Merry Christmas. Travel safe
Its been three years how is the alternator holding up?
Hello from Prescott, AZ. Enjoyed the video very much. We just ordered our new F350 two weeks ago and made sure to get the 397 amp alternator. Feeling extra good about that now, as we also plan to charge Lithium Batteries with a DC-DC converter. Also noticed from watching your solar videos that you are getting what I would consider to be very poor results from you solar. You didn't mention how they are wired but I would be interested in that answer. Could be a better way? Take care.. Jet
Just found your TH-cam channel. That was a great vlog on the Mechman. Do you have an update on it two years later?
The MechMan is still going strong. I have no complaints about the alternator. It has handled everything we have thrown at it.
Perfect, I just ordered mine today and I am looking forward to my road trip with the better capacity. Thank you!
It’s a great upgrade. I’m sure you will enjoy it. 👍
Halfway through a road trip around the United States. The Mechman is doing great. Thank you for the channel video. Very happy with my upgrade.
Good to hear. Thanks for the report! Enjoy your trip!
Understand that the Renogy 40 amp DC/DC unit OUTPUTS up to 40 amps but it can draw as much as 50 amps from the truck due to that fact that it is a Buck/Boost design, it can buck the voltage down, or boost the voltage up, to what is needed, and with internal electrical losses, it needs more than it puts out. I've been looking at the Mechman alternators for a year or so now, and installing a separate cabling system and Anderson connectors, but it will just have to wait. No lithium so its not absolutely needed right now.
The Star Trek makes the video :) love the channel !
Thank you for the information on the alternator! We had our 2003 6.0 Diesel Ford F250 "Bulletproof" in AZ in 2019 per your recommendations...thank you!!!! Merry Christmas!
As long as it doesn’t involve the septic system
Great video!
But Cap'n! Ye kinna change the laws of physics!
I want to install one of these in my 2011 Camry, if for peace of mind if nothing else. Most of the alternators being produced today are China junk. I don't want to screw up my car doing it though. At a minimum, do I need larger gauge ground and battery cables?
Thx Sean for the Good info lookin into it 💕💕
Really dig the Star Trek inserts. I have a 2014 350 with a 6.7. I wonder if that’s the alternator that was in your 6.0 and if I should up grade? I have 3 120 amp Zamp solar panels. With AGM batteries. Great vid always informative.